Utah Trip: Halloween, Hunting, and Ry's 30th Birthday!

We decided to make a fall trip to Utah this year. Ryan is really into hunting and since we've been living in Indiana he hasn't been able to hunt for a few years. This year we decided to make a trip out to Utah so Ry could go deer hunting with his dad. They had a great time! They didn't get anything but they did see lots of wildlife. It was also perfect timing because we just so happened to be in Utah for Ryan's 30th birthday! Since it was his big 3-0 I decided to throw him a surprise b-day party. It was so fun! We also had a great time at the Terry's annual family Halloween party.

Before we left for Utah, I made Riley this cabbage patch doll wig! I thought she was so cute in it! 

Can't wait to dress her up on Halloween!

Seeing Nana right after we arrived. 

Ry and Izzy having a little snuggle.

Riley was in the cutest mood for these pictures. So smiley! 
Probably because she was so happy to be with her cousin Izzy!

Look at that face!

Only 9-ish months apart! I'm so glad Riley has cousins around her age, and on both sides! 
Cousins are the best.

My happy girl. I love this shirt, "My heart is so happy." This is my current fave outfit on Riley. The shirt's saying is so true! Riley has such a happy heart! And she absolutely makes our hearts happy too!

Saying bye to Daddy right before he took off for the hunt. 

Ryan heading out to deer hunt for a few days.

We miss him when he's gone but he was so excited to go since he hasn't been able to hunt for a few years. 

Tom and his awesome wife Hannah were in town from England so it was fun to see them/meet Hannah. She is very lovable!

Dinner at Zupas with Nana, Jennica, and Izzy. Riley LOVED all the samples of everyone's food and sitting like a big girl in a high chair.

After dinner we went to Karli's choir concert. Riley got scared and cried during the applause. haha She is scared of loud noises still!

Hanging out with Whi Whi

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We love our trips to Utah and spending time with our families. Grandma is always so nice to be around! 

Happy to be with Grandma!

Chillin' with Grandpa. Riley looks so comfy! haha

Ryan had a great time hunting with his dad. They got to stay in the camper trailer which sounds like fun! They even watched Back to the Future one night. Ryan also raved about their yummy cooking they did while camping. Ry was so happy to report that they saw lots of wildlife and had a great time and good weather in the great outdoors. Unfortunately he didn't get anything though, but still had a great time.

Ry got back the evening of his birthday so that whole morning I spent getting some things ready for his b-day party! I was so excited to surprise him! We asked Ryan's mom to "babysit Riley" so we could have a birthday date night. We went out to Rodizio Grill which was a really fun experience! And really yummy too! They have some crazy meats that I wasn't a fan of or even brave enough to try (stuff like chicken heart, snake etc) but they also had some good normal meats and my personal fave, an AMAZING salad bar and yummy grilled pineapple. While we were away at dinner all of our party guests headed over to the Van Wagoner's house.

After dinner I went to the restroom to sneak in a text to Ryan's mom. I asked her to call in about 10 minutes.  I thought maybe Ryan suspected something so I started driving south on the I-15 and pretended like I was taking Ry to Comedy Sportz.

When Mom VW called, I thought I had the perfect plan in place. She told us Riley would not stop crying and wouldn't take her bottle. My plan was working out perfectly. But then Ryan had to be all difficult! haha he was like, "Oh really? Maybe she just needs to hear our voices. Put the phone on speaker." haha His mom was like, "Uhhh...I can't...cause well....Karli just took her outside to see if it would help her to stop crying." So Ryan says, "OK well she should be fine then. She really loves to be outside. Just call us back in 10 minutes or so if she hasn't stopped crying and we'll try talking to her on speaker phone." I did NOT see that coming! Haha I guess I should have taken the phone call myself! I ended up asking for the phone to talk to Mom VW myself. After asking her what was wrong I said we would just come home real quick so I could nurse Riley and calm her down and then Ry and I could go back on our date. We started driving to the Van Wagoner's.

When we got to the house we walked into the family room and everyone shouted, "SURPRISE!" Ryan was definitely surprised! It was so so much fun!

At our dinner at Rodizio Grill. We don't eat meat very often so I think Ry was really excited to go!

Enjoying our yummy food and fancy lemonade.

A month or two ago, Ry sent me a link to this Nutella cheesecake and half-jokingly asked me to make it for his B-day. Well, I did not disappoint! Man were these cheesecakes AMAZING! It took me HOURS to make them and I was up till 2 a.m. the night before but it was sooo worth it! They were seriously fabulous. Oreo crust on bottom, layer of plain cheesecake, layer of nutella cheesecake, layer of dark chocolate ganache. Fabulous! 

Ry hanging out with some of the guys at his party.

So nice to have Roah and Emily come!

Chris, Jamie, and Blakeley came. Jamie is pregnant and has really bad H.G. She was actually in the hospital the day of Ryan's party and yet they STILL came. They are such great friends! It meant so much that they came because we knew it was not easy for them to come! We were happy to see them!

Watching a video of Ryan as a kid. 

Watching a video from when Ry was a baby.

We were SOOOO happy that Wes and Anna could come! They were some of our best friends at Notre Dame and we have so missed them! It was fun to be reunited. 

We were thrilled to meet Wes and Anna's baby, Richard! I have been dying to meet him! 

Riley hanging out with Aunt Whit. She helped so much with her during the party! Whit is so good with Riley. 

Addie was such a good helper, helping Ry to open all of his presents :) 

Ry and Addie. She is such a girly-girl! I love how she's always so dressed up and girly.

Ry with his cutie nieces!

My mom and dad with Riley girl.

Grandma soaking up the snuggle time with Riley babe.

I mean look at that sleeping little angel chub.

Everyone took turns holding Riley. I love how her belly is hanging out here and she only has one shoe on! :) She looks pretty comfy doesn't she?

Brendi's turn!

Danny and his gulfwend Sarah! Danny sure loves her so it's fun to have her around so we can get to know her! As you can see, Riley likes her too!

Grandpa Van!

Kinda blurry but I still think it's such a cute picture. Riley and her daddy on his 30th b-day. This is Ry's favorite shirt of Riley's, "Daddy's little princess." He always wants me to buy stuff that say things about daddy on them like "daddy's girl." He sure loves her!

Hanging out with the VW's after the b-day party. 

Brendi has a family Halloween party every year and we were happy that we were in town when she was having it! It was really fun to be able to hang out with everyone and see everyone's funny costumes!

Since we didn't bring costumes (except for Riley's) we just went through my family's closets and dressed up as nerds!
We looked pretty hilarious if I do say so myself.

Riley was the cutest Cabbage Patch baby!

I mean seriously how adorable is she? She looks just like a Cabbage Patch Doll!

Like father like son right? ;) Ryan's mom and dad were George and Lorraine McFly from Back to the Future. 

I am HORRIBLE at wrapping Ryan like a mummy in toilet paper. I kept accidentally ripping it after just a couple of squares! haha It was pretty funny.

The whole fam in their costumes. 

We went with my fam to the park and let Riley swing. She loves to swing!

I just think this is the cutest picture of Riley and her grandma! She loves my mom so much!

Riley and Roah. The first one is cute. The second one...I think she is just ready for bed! haha

And now here we are, back on a plane and headed home to the Bay. Until next time Utah.